The reaches of bathtubs,
with snips of old ribbons
(glance there for water
and hypnotic reflections)
A puncture forgiven, now
struggle past slats
to blue-tinted glass.

A point to the cottoned,
she pulls comprehension
through in zig-zag and tacking
that threatens to slip, but…

when the stitches recede,
the frayed tears in her sleeves
creep up toward closed eyes
to gorge on despond

Onomatopoeia
growl? no! grr? wait! squeak? ahhh!
frustrated your schema
redefine the data

Stop and Pop Ephedrin
and go go go cingulum
Lips-wide-op en-gate-one
bibo gradale malum

Trite Alliteration
Justice Carroll frowns on
somnambulistic fun
far safer with a gun

The Sub-pedestrian bilge-fills
but finished glad, with cold-chills
a peer review’s the best thrill
so flirt and spread the good will

Torn about like plastic bags,
that carried all our coins
They buy their retribution
in masks of vigilance.
“You dare to doubt our goals?”

Bent about like cordons,
secure in their position,
They try malum in se.
“Taboo,” the cry, “such judgments!
(of) hungry violation.”

Spun about like wind-socks,
clutching every handbill
to grasp a quick solution
for every passing grief
“Don’t call me a fascist…”

Their inset tongues slaver-
drip ichor from folds
of silk-linen.
Raving for that cowhide-
lined parcel.

Currently the FCC is reviewing possible regulation to prevent discrimination against traffic on the internet. At the same time two bills are in congress to prevent the FCC from regulating this new medium. This battle is pretty vital to fundamental rights and the economy. Even from a purely consumer standpoint it’s vital. Otherwise we’ll be seeing things that are similar to the ridiculous $1300 per megabyte pricing on SMS messages, only it’ll be on innovative technologies like Voice Over Internet Calling (VOIP), internet video (hulu/youtube/etc.) or even access to things like Google.

The FCC’s approach isn’t perfect, and most times I’m against regulation of any kind. However, the current regulation posed by the FCC is intended to allow the internet to grow unfettered by selfish business interests. Will it have unintended consequences? Possibly. On the other hand, the bills offered by members of congress will have immediate chilling effect. They will allow ISP’s to protect their business models indefinitely at the expense of everyone in the United States.

This will hurt the economy badly, especially in the realm of innovation and new business creation, all for the sake of the few. Stopping this creates a retro-active bailout, allowing ISP’s to compete via subterfuge.

Worse, lack of non-discrimination regulation means “trustworthy” companies like AT&T and Comcast can decide if they really want you to see that review of their customer service quality… or they can decide if they want to let you post or let anyone read your political/religious views online.

Free Speech/Press are vital to democracy. The internet provides the most ideal form of these ideas. Previously, you had freedom of speech, but only as much as the money you had for a PA system. You had freedom of the press, but only if you could afford a press and find an effective delivery method. Now infinitely powerful PA’s and presses and delivery systems are available for free at your local library. But some of the old press owners are not too thrilled. They didn’t mind so much, until it interfered with their business model.

Check out SaveTheInternet.com They’re pretty evenhanded, acknowledging the weaknesses of the FCC plan and exposing the hypocrisy of the “Internet Freedom Act”, which only frees ISP’s in regard to the net.

Next fashion the turnstiles
that taxi down runways,
carve roads for the bylaws,
draft bills for the bluejays.

And row with the sailors
who sing so succinct
the barnacle shanties
from ballads, distinct.

@kholinar Beneath the soft eddies, my arms struggle deeper, restless ’til I find your current, aching to be caught in your sweet maelstrom.

Megan and I recently went to see Bright Star, a period piece about the tragic romance between John Keats and Fanny Brawne. It’s lovely movie that’s far more grounded than most efforts in the genre.

To promote the movie, the production company decided to try their hands at social networking. They are holding a contest on twitter for the best “Little Tweet Nothing”, that is, a 140 character composition (including your username) on the themes of love, romance, or passion. The prize for the winner is the “A Diamond Is Forever Everlon Diamond Knot Collection Non-Pave Pendant.

It was a very fun exercise to distill this sort of message into 140 characters. This is one of the things I love about twitter, the constraint of squeezing an entire thought into such a concise statement. Much like strict meters in poetry, constraints make you consider other ways of expressing a near identical thought. Sometimes, the constraint even alters the thought in an interesting way that you would not have considered otherwise. I believe working in these confines changes an artist’s mind in a way that’s very valuable so that, when the constraints are removed, they still look for alternate paths. When we get away from the obvious, we learn much more about ourselves… and that’s the point of art.

Only two weeks until finalists are notified. Regardless of success, this was a fun contest.

p.s. – See the movie. It’s fab. http://www.brightstar-movie.com